How to Discover, Live, and Monetize Our Values with Jacqui Bowman and John Kitchens During the episode, John and his guest Jacqui Bowman explore how identifying core values can significantly boost motivation, improve happiness, and serve as a framework for personal and business development. John reflects on how this exercise encouraged him to revisit his core strengths, especially through tools like the VIA Character Strengths assessment from the University of Pennsylvania. This episode is packed with practical steps and personal insights that will inspire listeners to take action in their own lives.   Why Core Values Matter for Success The conversation starts with an important reminder: your core values are your internal compass. They guide your decisions and how you spend your time, and ultimately shape your success. Whether in your personal life or business, these values help you stay aligned with what truly matters. John explains how living according to your values gives you a sense of purpose and helps eliminate the need for external motivation. When you're working in your "highest value space," you’re naturally energized and driven to achieve more.   Key Takeaways on Core Values and Motivation: Core Values as Filters: Values are the decision-makers of your life. They influence how you spend your time and energy. Once you identify them, you'll be able to focus on what truly matters and cut out distractions. The Power of Self-Discovery: Discovering your core values and strengths can be a game-changer for your personal happiness and business success. Understanding what makes you tick can bring clarity to your decisions and goals. Intrinsic Motivation: When you're aligned with your core values, motivation comes from within. John emphasizes that working in your highest value space means you no longer need to force yourself to do things — you naturally feel excited and energized to take action.   The VIA Character Strengths Assessment John shares his experience with the VIA Character Strengths assessment, a powerful tool developed by the University of Pennsylvania to help individuals understand their core strengths. Based on 240 questions, this assessment uncovers your top strengths, which can then be aligned with your core values to create a personalized roadmap to success. John highlights that knowing your character strengths is like having a "cheat code" for life — it allows you to work smarter, not harder, by focusing on areas where you naturally excel.   John’s Key Character Strengths: Capacity to Love and Be Loved: This strength fuels John’s passion for coaching and helping others transform their lives. Leadership and Coaching: John talks about how his love for coaching aligns with his core values, giving him boundless energy and a sense of fulfillment. Gratitude and Optimism: John shares how focusing on gratitude and optimism helps him overcome challenges and stay motivated.   Dr. Demartini’s Core Value Exercise The heart of the episode revolves around Dr. Demartini’s core value exercise, which is designed to uncover your deepest values by answering 13 insightful questions. John and his guest walk through these questions in real time, showing listeners how this exercise can reveal patterns and areas where they may not have realized their true motivations.   Sample Questions from the Exercise: How do you spend your personal space? (Look at the things that fill your surroundings, as they often reflect what you value most.) How do you spend your time? (We make time for the things that matter most to us. If you’re always running out of time, it may be because your priorities aren't aligned.) How do you spend your energy? (If something drains you, it may not align with your core values. On the other hand, what gives you energy is likely connected to what you truly value.)   As John walks through the questions, he provides examples from his own life, highlighting how core val